CENTRAL AYRSHIRE GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATES

Published 6 May 2010 10:00

Your May 6 candidates have their final say

JOHN Mullen, the SNP csandidate, says: Over the past few weeks of the election campaign I have met with voters in Irvine and Kilwinning as well as accepting all invitations to speak at election hustings organised by local groups.

In doing so it has become clear that there is a strong desire for a change of MP. People genuinely feel that there is no personal link or attachment between themselves and their main political representative.

I believe this is a major issue which has to be addressed. Therefore I have pledged to open a constituency office which is open during normal shopping hours, easy to locate and accessible to all.

It looks very likely that there will be a balanced Parliament after Thursday's poll, From what I am hearing from viewers there is a great desire for this to happen it is a situation which the SNP have been preparing for for years and in which we will work to get the best deal for the people of Scotland.

Our manifesto commitments are designed to be affective and achievable in the next Parliament. They will complement the good work of the Scottish Government which has already managed to introduce policies which will benefit everyone in Scotland, like the freeze on the Council Tax and the reduction of prescription charges.

Therefore it is vital that we send a strong group of local champions to Westminster to ensure that your voice, the voice of Scotland, is heard at this election.

SCOTTISH Liberal Democrat Andrew Chamberlain is hoping their party have presented a case for fundamental political and economic reform.

Mr Chamberlain said: "We would introduce fair votes and eliminate safe seats. We would give people the power to recall their MPs.

"Under the Liberal Democrats this area could never be taken for granted again.

"On the economy, we would rebalance taxation to ensure that the poorest will no longer pay a higher proportion of their income in tax than the richest. Under our plans 3.6 million of the lowest paid will be taken out of Income Tax altogether.

"We'd split risky investment banking from safe retail banking to ensure that bankers can't take undue risks with people's savings.

"We'd force the banks to lend to business. Finally, we'd secure the recovery with a £3.1billion green stimulus package."

Mr Chamberlain added: "In education we'd introduce a £2.5billion pupil premium to bring the amount that we spend on the education of children from the poorest backgrounds up to the levels enjoyed by children in private schools.

"Our proposals are the most radical of the three main parties, but also the most credibly costed according to the IFS.

"If you vote for the Liberal Democrats on May 6 we can deliver the change that this part of Ayrshire needs."

THIS week Brian Donohoe has made his calls for Central Ayrshire to elect him as their MP and support Labour.

Mr Donohoe said: "At this General Election I am seeking your support to represent the constituency of Central Ayrshire for a second term. I have been the MP for most of the area since 1992, but as you know the constituency boundaries were changed before the last election.

"So what do you get if you vote for me? An experienced politician who has worked and will continue to work tirelessly for Central Ayrshire and its people - whether they have voted for me or not. Somebody who is passionate about this part of Scotland, cares about its people, and who has proved he can influence its prosperity and its way of life."

His top priorities for Central Ayrshire are creating more jobs, schools, trains, buses, leisure facilities, locally-produced energy and more police on the beat.

Mr Donohoe added: "We have recently experienced one of the most debilitating recessions in history, but, under a Labour Government and due to the policies put in place, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We are slowly but surely recovering the economy and at this point a change of Government would spell disaster and all the hard work which has been done to ensure an economic recovery would be put at risk.

"Don't let David Cameron into No 10 through the back door - a vote for Labour is a vote for the prosperity of the whole country."

THERE are only hours left to stop the cuts according to Socialist Labour Party candidate James McDaid.

The Central Ayrshire hopeful is determined that his party will protect essential services while all the others will cut.

Mr McDaid said: "Our pensioners get a raw deal. Tories under Thatcher broke the 'link' that kept pensions in line with earnings and New Labour have done nothing about it. I say re-instate that link and back date it to 1979. This would increase the state pension by £50 per week for a single pensioner and around £80 per week for a couple. We could easily pay for that by withdrawing this country from the European Union and saving £6.4billions per year in the process.

"The other parties will also increase the tax burden on ordinary people. They want to make us pay for the crisis created by the banks, big corporations and the super rich. The 'Rich List' published last week showed there are individuals with assets measured by the tens and even hundreds of £billions in this country. Yet the other parties want to increase VAT, a tax where the pensioner pays the same rate as the richest in the land! If we put just one penny on the top rate of tax we could earn for the country an extra £3.5billions per year."

Socialist Labour are also aiming to scrap Trident and withdraw soldiers from Afghanistan.

AYRSHIRE already has so much to be proud of and we must capitalise on every opportunity to boost the local economy.

That's according to Central Ayrshire Conservative candidate Maurice Golden who added: "As your MP I would see it as my responsibility to deliver positive change for Ayrshire and fix broken politics through my 'Agenda for Ayrshire' initiative.This initiative involves local politicians and communities working together to lay the foundations for growth, for the benefit of everyone in Ayrshire. I believe these new initiatives will work for Ayrshire and I have the drive, energy, commitment and resolve to see them through personally. This is why you should vote for me on May 6."

The key components of Mr Golden's 'Agenda for Ayrshire' includes, supporting local communities by boosting small businesses, fixing 'broken politics' by increasing accessibility and accountability of your local MP to the constituents they are elected to serve, boosting the economy by making Ayrshire the green capital of the UK and encouraging tourism by prioritising sustainable transport.

Other components include hosting a pre-Olympic Golf event as well as establishing an 'Ayrshire Way' Walk, ensuring year-round 'Spring Clean' drives to significantly reduce littering, dog fouling and vandalism and establishing a 'Pensioners League'.

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